Temple University
Some History
Page 2
written and researched by Gerry Wilkinson
Time to continue a walk down memory lane with some photos and history of Temple University.
Baptist Temple
Located on North Broad Street between Montgomery and Norris. It is at what used to be the corner of Broad and Berks Streets. It is just south of Mitten Hall.
College Hall
Address:
1831 N. Broad Street
Philadelphia PA 19122
(Located on Broad between Montgomery and Norris Streets)
Conwell Hall
Address: Description: Named after the University's founder, Dr. Russell H. Conwell, ground was broken on May 10, 1920 by Conwell, who at that time was Temple's President. Dr. Conwell did the ceremonial groundbreaking himself with students and community residents as onlookers. By the 1922, the University consisted of 12 schools and colleges, staffed by a faculty of 400, many of whom were part-timers, teaching a single course. Students that year totalled over 8,000. By March of 1922, the houses that were on the future site of Conwell Hall started to come down. While the cornerstone was laid on October 15, 1922, it wasn't dedicated until January 23, 1924. The six-story building was enlarged with an additional floor (the seventh) being added in 1926. On December 6, 1925, Dr. Conwell passed away at the age of 82 after an intermittent but protracted illness. The building was shortly thereafter named Conwell Hall. Previously, it was simply referred to as "the new building" or once in awhile "Unit number 1." When Dr. Russell Conwell, founder of Temple University died on December 6, 1925, the biggest question was whether burial would be in Philadelphia or in New England. Philly won and Conwell was buried across the street from Conwell Hall in Monument Cemetery (now Parking Lot #1). About three decades later Dr. Conwell and his second wife, Sarah were dug up and moved to Mount Laurel Cemetery where they were placed in sort of a holding pattern. All the other bodies in the cemetery were sent to the suburbs. At high noon on May 11, 1959, the Conwells were laid in "their final resting place" in front of Conwell Hall. Nothing is final at Temple. In 1968, they dug 'em up again and moved them to their new "final resting place" in a garden setting just north of Speakman Hall. A stuffed owl sat on the desk of Conwell. He chose the owl as the mascot for the whole College when Temple was a night school. To him the owl was a successful predatory night bird that symbolized the successful grasping of knowledge of the students of the night school. The building named in his honor has an owl above the main entrance. For many years there were also live owls kept on campus and cared for by students. The last live owl was given to the Fall 1931 season Temple University football team by the University of Missouri and named "Owliver." It was later given to the Philadelphia Zoo. In an e-mail from Marina Haynes, Animal Records Assistant/Librarian at the Philadelphia Zoo, she wrote: In the early years of the building, there were a large number of students and the main stairway in Conwell Hall was one-way only, going up. Those going down had to use the fire tower. In 1943 (during the heart of World War II), there were three women for every male enrolled at Temple University. Socially, things got so "bad" that the University, through the Dean of Students, set up an official "date bureau." Coeds wanting dates filled out cards with their name, address, telephone number and height. Men students could then look at the cards to get "leads." Fifty years before, Founder Russell Conwell received "heat" from some of his church's members. He was told by some to "stick to the gospel." After starting Temple College and Samaritan Hospital (now called Temple University Hospital), they questioned whether the Saviour had authorized the church on earth "to heal the sick and teach the ignorant." Wonder what they would think about this!!! Conwell Hall contains some of the Registrar's offices, the undergraduate admissions offices and many other administrative offices. There is a dance studio for the Dance Department on the 5th floor. Previously the floor was used as a school gym. This building is joined to Carnell Hall, which appears to be part of Conwell Hall. It's not, it was a later addition. Previous to the erection of Conwell Hall at 1801 North Broad Street there sat a beautiful "Philadelphia Mansion," one of those large, row homes. In this row house was the Temple High School. Conwell Hall replaced three houses, 1801, 1803 and 1805, Carnell Hall was 1807 thru 1815 even though the University uses the address 1803 for Carnell Hall. The row houses replaced were large with small front yards, and the corner property also had a side yard.
1801 North Broad Street
Philadelphia PA 19122-6096
(Located at N. Broad Street and Montgomery Avenue)After searching the animal record archives, I found out that Owliver was a Great Horned Owl (Bubo Virginianus) that was donated to the Zoo on December 1, 1931 from Temple University. We don't know his sex (it was either not recorded or not known). He died December 12, 1947 from injuries from another owl. He did not sire any young while he was at the zoo. Interestingly, Temple wanted the body back after death - for what reason I don't know! Anyway, that is all the info we have on him.
Gerry Wilkinson wrote back wanting to know if Temple actually received the body. This time, she replied:I have no idea if they did get it back. There is no mention of it in the archives, it doesn't seem that they recorded returns of carcasses.
This picture dates from between 1926 and 1928.
1931 Photo of Conwell Hall and Carnell Hall
1949 Photo of North Philly skyline and campus.
Picture taken from the top of Conwell Hall looking north.
Beury Hall
Address: Description: Beury Hall contains the classrooms, offices and laboratories for the geology and chemistry departments. It was dedicated on March 21, 1964. The building is owned by the General State Authority and was constructed at a cost of $4,800,000. Completion of the structure marks Temple's second building of science and research. The dedication ceremonies began with a convocation in Thomas Hall at which honorary degrees were presented. Following this, a luncheon was held at Mitten Hall for some 350 persons. Ceremonies concluded with the unveiling of a bust of Dr. Beury in the lecture lobby of the building. The building has 29 classrooms, 16 faculty offices, 49 laboratories and four lecture halls. Plus there's a glass-blowing shop, a photographic darkroom, a television studio and a library with a 10,000 volume capacity. It was named for Dr. Charles E. Beury, Temple's second President (from 1926 to 1941). Before becoming president, Beury served on Temple's Board of Trustees for 13 years. He was a banker, lawyer, clergyman and businessman as well as an educator. He was a graduate of Princeton and the Harvard Law School. After retiring as preisdnet, he again served on the Board from 1941 until 1952 snd was trustee-emeritus at the time of his death in 1953. In a report written in 1941, Dean James H. Dunham of the College of Liberal Arts said, "The Founder created an educational idea, his successor gave it outward form and expression." This statement can serve as a summary of the Beury administration at Temple University.
Temple University
Beury Hall
1901 N. 13th St
Philadelphia PA 19122-6081
(Located at N. 13th and Norris Streets)
Above is a photo of the Temple University campus is it existed early in 1966.
In the foreground is the construction site of Annenberg Hall and Tomlinson Theater. Also pictured are Barton Hall, Beury Hall and the Paley Library.
Continue to Carnell Hall and other buildings This is the WRTI Old Gang Web Site!
